Broken Bow council authorizes abatement process for unsafe property at 843 North 6th Avenue

The Broken Bow City Council voted Sept. 12 to authorize the administration and legal department to begin abatement and removal actions at a nuisance property located at 843 North 6th Avenue after the property owner declined to remediate the site, minutes show.

Police Chief Steve Scott told the council the first 60‑day notice was sent May 26, 2021 (signed May 27, 2021) and that a second 60‑day notice was signed June 25, 2023. Chief Scott reported the property owner had been in contact with police but “is not interested in cleaning or fixing up the property and would rather sign the property over to the City,” according to the minutes.

Streets/Parks Overseer Darren Marten described structural and safety hazards: the garage is near collapse and the inside of the house is unsafe to enter because floors and ceilings are caving in; Marten also raised the possibility of mold and asbestos. Mayor Rod Sonnichsen and councilmembers emphasized that if asbestos is suspected the city cannot take debris to the CD Cell and that testing would be required before any city employees handle materials. A sealed landfill such as Lexington Landfill was discussed as an option for disposal.

Following the public hearing, the council closed the hearing at 5:45 p.m. and adopted a motion to approve a course of action to proceed with removal and abatement; the roll call vote was recorded as Smith, Baltz, Holland and Myers in favor. Mayor Sonnichsen said the matter will be turned over to the administration and legal department to get the removal process started.

The minutes do not record a statement from the property owner at the hearing. The council did not specify a timeline or cost estimate in the minutes; such implementation details will be handled by administration and legal.